Gate.



2 SHEETS-SHBET l.

PATENTED JULY 17, 1906. R. W. DEAN. GATE. APPLICATION TILED NOV. 6, 1905.

IIE NORRIS PETER: c h, WASHINGTON, o. c.

N0- 826,489. v PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

R. W. DEAN.

' GATE. I APPLICATION rum) N016, 19 5.

2 SHEETS-$11331 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1'7, 1906.

Application filed November 6, 1905. Serial No. 286,07 7.

I0 a/ZZ ZUII/OTII/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, RoBERrW. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of lllinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in gates, and more especially to the class of fence or farm gates that may be manipulated from a vehicle or other means of conveyance, and has for its object to provide a light, durable, and comparatively inexpensive structure of this character that may be opened or closed with the greatest facility.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation embodying the improved features. Fig. 2 is a side elevation and part section of a baseplate, showing the relative position of the gate-levers and the actuating-spring. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3, Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow; and Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 2.

A may represent the gate proper, the rec tangular frame of which consists of the top bar 5, the bottom bar 6, and the respective end bars 7 and 3. This integral frame will ordinarily be composed of a continuous metal rod and the connecting open panel-work may consist of the horizontal wires 9 and the vertical wires 10.

.When the gate is of the full fence-panel length, the structure is strengthened by a vertical central bar 11, which affords holding ground for the upper ends of companion gate actuating or shifting levers 12 and 13, located on opposite sides, Fig. 2, of the gate and secured thereto by a pivot-bolt 14. An anchor base-plate or casting 15 is properlysecured in a stationary position in line with the back gate-post 16. This base-plate isprovided at its ends with companion bearing-lugs 17 and 1.8, in which are inserted the respective ends of a rod19, on which is coiled a torsionspring 20. This spring is made of a single piece of material and is provided in the longitudinal center with a V-shaped loop 21, from which point the coils incline in opposite directions to the respective ends, as best shown in Fig. 2. The ends of the spring are bent around to provide bearings for the screw tension-bolts 22 and 23. These bolts are threaded in lugs 24,formed on the base-plate, and are located on opposite ends thereof, as shown in Fig. 4. A screw-bolt 25 is located centrally on the opposite side and is threaded in a lug 26 and engages the V-shaped loop at its junction and provides a fulcrum for the spring.

The respective ends 27 and 28 of a semicircular cap or'hood 29 loosely engage the corresponding parts of the spring-rod 19 just inside of the lugs 17 and 18, thus providing for a rocking movement of said cap. This cap forms a protecting-cover for the spring, and

its respective edges 30 and 31 come just below the center thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. The cap 29 is provided at each end with standards 32 and 33, to which the lower ends of the actuating-levers 12 and 13 are rigidly secured, as shown in Fig. 2. A second pair of companion actuating-levers 34 have their upper ends secured to the rear upper corner of the gate structure, Fig. 1, by a pivot-bolt 35.

These levers are exact duplicates of levers 12 and 13 and are secured at their lower ends to standards 36, which form part of a cap like that of cap 29 and have a working movement on a spring-rod 37 having its ends supported in an anchor base-plate 38, located near the longitudinal center of the adjoining fencepanel. I t will be understood that the levers 34 have the same spring-actuated action as that shown and described in connection with levers 12 and 13.

A plate 39 is secured to the gate-post 16 and carries guide-sheaves 40, between which runs a rope 41, the lower end of which is connected to one of the companion levers 12 and 13, as at a. Two manipulating branch ropes 42 and 43 connect with the upper end of rope 41, the branch 42 running to a post 44 and ending in a hand-grasp 45 within convenient reach. The rope branch 43 runs to a post (not shown) located on the opposite side of the gate, so that the same may be readily opened and closed from either side.

When the gate is in the closed position shown, the actuating liftinglevers run diagonally, and when in the wide-open position (not shown) the levers incline in the opposite direction, so that the double action of the springs is the same in moving the gate in either direction. When the gate is in its highest or central position, (indicated by the dotted lines,) the levers are approximately in a vertical position very nearly corresponding to the position shown in Fig. 3. In this position the edges of cap 29 are not in contact with the spring. Now suppose the gate to be descending-that is, gravitating to its open position. The edge 30 of cap 29 will in due time come in contact with the respective ends of the spring, which will graduate the descent of the gate and prevent any serious shock or jar. As the edge 30 of the cap comes 5 in contact with the ends of the spring the same are forced inward and away from the tension or retaining screw-bolts 22 and 23, which not only cushions and cases the down movement of the gate,-but also prepares the to spring to exert a lifting force in assisting to close the gate when the manipulating-rope is pulled. hen the gate descends to the closed position shown, the edge 31 of cap 29 comes in contact with the \l-loop of the spring and compresses the same, providing for an easy descent and storing up a lifting force, which, together with an initiating pull on the manipulating-rope, will impart suflioient momentum to always carry the gate over the center in either direction. When the gate is in its open position,it stands alongside of and parallel with. the joining fencepanel. The up movement of the gate is in a diagonal plane from either direction and comes to a horizontal position midway between, as indicated in dotted lines.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a gate of the class described, companion actuating-levers secured at their upper ends to the gate proper, a stationary base, a rocking cap mounted thereon and having an operative connection with said levers, a spring looatedin said base and in position to be engaged by said cap, both in the opening or closing movement of the gate.

2. In a gate of the class described, the actu ating-levers, a stationary base, a cap having a rocking movement thereon, and a spring located between said base and cap and positioned to be contacted by the latter in imparting an opening or closing movement to the gate.

3. In a gate, actuating-levers therefor, a fixed base, a rod inserted. therein, a torsion spring coiled on said rod. and having a double action, means for regulating and retaining said spring in its working position, and a cap secured to the lower ends of said levers and alternately contacting said spring on its opposite sides. l In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT W. DEAN.

L. B. CoUPLANn, 

